Nautical Tattoo Flash Sheet With New Whale Designs
New sheet of Whale tattoo design on coquille paper from San Diego artist Chris Cockrill
Why I Love Nautical tattoo Flash
Living in San Diego by the ocean, I feel like the sea creeps into my artwork with nautical tattoo flash. It’s kinda hard not to — especially with that famous line from Anchorman always running through your head after you’ve lived here awhile. We get a bunch of whales along the coast, and it’s always an amazing experience to go out on a whale-watching boat if you’re lucky enough to catch them. Whale season starts next month, so it might be worth a shot.
Close up of the fun texture of this paper. could be simulated in a tattoo with stippling.
I recently finished a new sheet of flash. This one has a couple of whales paired with some classic tattoo motifs — a Rock of Ages and a Sailor’s Grave — kind of scrimshawed into their heads. I love this recipe. It adds another layer to the design and makes it feel a little stronger as a stand-alone piece. These are black and grey designs, but they could easily be done in color.
Living and tattooing in San Diego makes it hard not to draw whales and ocean themes.
What I’m Working On Lately
For this sheet, I decided to pull out the old coquille paper pad. Really fun stuff to draw on. It has a very unique texture that creates a beautiful stippled effect. It does work a little slower than traditional paper — you build up tones gradually with pressure — but the results are pretty rewarding. And there aren’t a lot of art supplies you need to carry around to complete a sheet.
Mixed it up a little this time with a chain and anchor, paired with a rock of ages design.
It’s a nice way to keep the tradition of tattoo flash alive, chipping away at it in between appointments and preparing new design offerings for the next year. I usually try to get one set done during the slower winter months.
These designs are available to be tattooed. They can be done in black and grey or in color, and most could be completed in one sitting. They’d look great on a longer part of the body like an arm, leg, or ribs. If these are something that interests you, or any traditional tattoo design. All it takes is setting up an appointment using the button below.
We’re pretty lucky here — we have the sea, mountains, and desert all nearby to pull inspiration from.Living in San Diego by the ocean, I feel like the sea creeps into my artwork. It’s kinda hard not to — especially with that famous line from Anchorman always running through your head after you’ve lived here awhile. We get a bunch of whales along the coast, and it’s always an amazing experience to go out on a whale-watching boat if you’re lucky enough to catch them. Whale season starts next month, so it might be worth a shot.